• Some Norman businesses can open Friday,
NORMAN — Restaurant dining areas, retail stores, gyms, golf courses and pet groomers are among the Norman businesses that will be allowed to reopen Friday, Mayor Breea Clark announced Tuesday.
Clark considered several factors, including additional testing and contact tracing capabilities, before signing the city's Healthier at Home proclamation. She said the three-phased approach will slowly open Norman businesses and public facilities while continuing to ensure the city's health care system does not become overwhelmed and adequate Personal Protective Equipment remains available to medical personnel and first responders.
“Over the past month we, along with many other communities around the nation and world, have taken extra or dinary measures to counter an extraordinary situation,” Clark said in a news release. “I have been proud to watch as Normanites come together to support their neighbors and accomplish our goal of flattening the curve in our city.
“Our data shows that our measures are working, we are experiencing a downward trend in the number of new cases and it is time to finish this marathon well and prepare for our future.”
Norman' s existing Shelter-in-Place order expires at 11:59 p.m. April 30.
Under Phase 1A, dining areas can open by reservation only provided seating arrangements meet social distancing requirements.
Retail stores can open if protective measures are followed and overall store capacity at at any given time is limited to 35% of the maximum capacity as previously determined by the fire marshal.
Laura Duprez, who coowns Gaberino's Homestyle Italian Reststaurant with her husband, said May 1 is too soon to open her dining room to customers. The Norman couple, who have relied on curbside pickup and delivery, have lost half their staff since mid-March. They are planning to reopen on May 7 or May 8, in time for Mother's Day.
“I have to face the reality that I'm going to have to reopen with significantly less staff and that makes me nervous,” Duprez told The Oklahoman. “There's a lot of uncertainty and not knowing what to do. “I'm not so nervous about myself. I just want all my employees to feel comfortable and to feel good about it.”
Gyms, meanwhile, can reopen if they adhere to social distancing requirements and sanitation protocols. This does not include child care provided at gyms.
Golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, baseball and softball fields, and soccer goals may open. Organized practices for outdoor youth sports programs cannot begin in Phase 1A.
Music lessons, physical training and similar practices that are operated on a one-on-one basis can begin provided social distancing requirements are met and masks are worn by participants if feasible. Pet grooming operations can open for appointments only if they meet social distancing requirements.
Bars should remain closed, and schools and organized youth activities that are currently closed should remain closed until further notice. Visits to senior living facilities and hospitals are prohibited.
In Phase 1B of the plan, tentative ly scheduled to begin May 15, places of worship may operate under certain conditions, and personal care providers such as hair salons, nail salons and tanning salons can open by appointment only, provided social distancing requirements are met, masks are provided for staff, and sanitation protocols are followed.
Personal care provi de rs do not include massage parlors or tattoo parlors, according to Norman guidelines.
Also in Phase 1B, retail stores can open at 50% of capacity, organized youth sports can begin practicing and playgrounds and basketball courts can open.
Each phase is targeted to last 14 days in order to monitor these criteria as restrictions are slowly lifted, Clark said. Additional businesses and public facilities will open with restrictions such as strict social distancing requirements, reduced capacities and PPE requirements in place.
Guidelines for individuals and businesses will continue to be updated and restrictions raised. Additional phases are scheduled to begin May 29 (movie theaters, bowling alleys, community pools, summer camps, bars) and June 12 ( visits to senior living facilities and hospitals, youth sports games).
All restrictions could be lifted by Aug. 1, according to the city's plan.